Frequently asked questions....

Your service is so cheap - Why?

We are pleased to be able to offer a great service for such a low rate to our customers. Although we have staff on hand to help with any questions or concerns, any debt added is done so online which ensures that our price remains low. Any letters we receive will also be emailed to you in pdf format, which saves on postage and staff administration fees. Also, as we have thousands of satisfied customers, we are able to offer our service with super efficiency.

How do you collect my debts?

At Avonmere we believe in a firm but friendly approach. We carry this through by using key negotiation techniques combined with a letter before action process. As we have experience in litigation, credit reports, bailiff services, receiverships, liquidation, process serving and bankruptcy, people tend to take us extremely seriously. Therefore, as a registered debt collection company, our success rate is much better than individuals and companies who attempt to collect their money themselves. Also, everything we do is accessible through our online tailor-made backend system, enabling you to log in and be kept fully informed as to our progress.

What information do you require from me?

To chase your debt efficiently we would like as much information as you can provide but for all debts we do require the following:

• Name and address of the debtor
• Original invoice number and/or your debt reference (E.g. overdue rent)
• Total amount owed
• The date you would like us to begin our collection procedure

How do I receive my money?

You have the option to receive your money by wire transfer or cheque; just let us know your preferred method when you sign up. If you choose to accept payment via wire transfer then your bank details are placed on our secure web server and cannot be accessed by the public. However you choose to receive your money, it is always sent directly to you and never held by us.

What is your success rate?

The sooner we are able to start our collection process the better our chances of recovering your money. Typically, our collection success rate of debts that are less than 60 days old is 97%. Remember that older debts are harder to collect; so the sooner you get Avonmere involved the more likely you are to see your money.

Can I check up on Avonmere’s progress?

You can check up on all of the progress we are making at any time. Simply log into your account and view the “Action History” page of any debt you have added. Here you will find details of all the correspondence and contact, including all emails and letters we have sent or received, and any telephone conversations we have had with the debtor.

Does it matter how much the debt is for?

It does not matter if your debt is for £1,000,000, $100 or €500. We do not discriminate or penalise you for the size of debt that you are owed ensuring that you never pay more than our low cost, one-off fee. Obviously, if the debt recovery process is more than the debt it will not be financial viable to chase it, however, because we are able to collect your debts for such a small fee there are not many debts that fall into this category.

Will your action affect my relationship with the debtor?

We appreciate that your debtors maybe valuable to you whether they are friends or customers and that is why Avonmere takes a firm but fair approach. We initiate our collection process with a gentle reminder that the debt is overdue, and then gradually turn on more pressure as and when people do not respond or pay. Most debtors do respond to a third party collection firm immediately or at least put your debt to the top of their ‘to be paid’ pile. This approach ensures that you still have a solid relationship with your debtor maintaining your credibility.

Does it cost extra to collect money owed from abroad?

No. We collect any size debt from anywhere in the world for the same one-off, low-cost fee. E.G. If you live in California and are owed money from China, we would charge the same fee for a debt where both the debtor and creditor live in the same town or city.

Can I add your fees to the amount I am owed?

You are able to do this, but only if you have something in writing that stipulates in the event of any collection procedures being initiated the fees will be reclaimed from the debtor. This is usually normal procedure for companies but less usual for individuals.

Can I make money from Avonmere?

Yes, you can set yourself up as an Avonmere affiliate. If you then add our links on websites and someone signs up through clicking your link we will pay you commission for such referrals. We supply you with the text link and banners that will link to Avonmere with your unique affiliate code. It is quick and easy to do and allows you to earn money from our site. We believe in rewarding anyone who helps us gain more customers. By becoming an Avonmere affiliate you can see a return by using our simple service to advertise our site - on yours. It is quick and easy to set up and you can be earning money within a matter of minutes.

Do you send people to collect my money?

No. A personal visit would incur extra costs for time-travel and hiring of staff etc. We find the methods we implement are very successful and, more often than not, payment is sent promptly once they are made aware that a third party collection agency is involved.

What if I do not have the debtor’s address?

We are only able to collect debts if we have a current address for the debtor, we do not offer a tracing service in the cost.

Should I seek further advice?

Avonmere is proud to say that we are the cheapest solution for debt collection anywhere.* Seeking further advice is an option you have at anytime. The problem with this route is that you may then incur huge charges from other legal companies relating to the following:

• A charge for setting up the file.
• A percentage from the final amount recovered.
• Additional charges for letters sent and telephone calls made.
• An hourly charge for work completed on each debt.
• Even if you use a company that operates on a No Win No Fee basis, the costs will still be calculated once money is
• recovered and result in you receiving a much smaller amount than the original sum owed.

Our policy is to recover your money for a minimal amount with NO HIDDEN CHARGES via our proven techniques before you seek further advice.

* Based on research completed by us on the 26th July 2006

Wouldn’t it be better and quicker to just go to Court?

If you submit a court claim the debtor will usually receive details of your claim within 5 days of submitting the information, they then have 14 Days to reply or put forward a defence. If they choose to defend the claim, it may take a couple of months to get a date for a court hearing. Not only will you have to pay to submit the claim form but you will also have to pay for somebody to represent you, and/or take time out yourself to attend the court hearing. This process can be costly; time consuming and still does not guarantee your debt will be recovered successfully. In addition, even if the court award judgement in your favour, you may only get ridiculously small amounts by instalments from your debtor over years to come. We would recommend that for the sake of a one-off payment, our collection service has to be worth a try before such action is considered.

What if the debtor disputes the claim?

If a debtor disputes any part of the claim they can communicate with you directly through our system. All debtors are given unique log in details enabling them to send you any comments or information about the debt. This will be logged and you will be alerted immediately via email that the debtor has left you a message. This means you stay in control of what action is taken as everything the debtor has said or written is logged for your future reference. If you agree with the dispute and wish to accept a settlement, you can do so by logging into your account and changing the amount for us to recover. Either way, we will continue our collection process on your behalf.

Can I receive copies of all your correspondence?

Yes, you will automatically receive copies of all correspondence that we receive from the debtor via email, and a copy will be placed on the action history page for you to view at any time. For a nominal fee we will also be happy to provide you with additional copies by post.

Can I use your documents as evidence?

Yes, any documents we send you can be used as evidence. This will show that you have tried to collect the debt yourself before taking court action. Generally, when you can prove to the court that you have taken reasonable action to recover your money, the Judge is more likely to award a judgement in your favour.

How secure is your site?

Avonmere Debt Collection uses secure web servers and has the strongest encryption available on the web today. You can rest assured that all of your information is protected. We will never hand your information to a 3rd party, or use your data in any way that contravenes the Data Protection Act.

What do you mean by an active debt?

When you enter the details of a debt that you need help with, we ask you to enter a date on which you would like us to begin our collection procedure. Once this date is reached, we begin our collection process and the debt becomes active.

Will I get a refund on unused credits?

We will not give refunds on credits once they have been purchased, however, your credits do not have an expiry date, so any that are not used immediately will be held for you so they can be used at a later date. Should you cancel a debt before it is active then you will be able to reuse that credit for another debt.

Is Avonmere a recognised service?

Yes. We collect debts from all over the world and are members of many highly respected financial associations including, The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA), Credit Services Association, The Association of Credit Professionals and The Institute of Credit Management. This means that you can be assured that our service is safe and reliable and we will always work to a very professional and high standard.

What does it cost?

The most you will ever pay for an account is £99. There is the option to bulk buy credits, which enables you to purchase an account for as little as £30. Please go to our rate card for more information.